Former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah has spoken about Mohamed Salah and Arne Slot following the pair’s high-profile falling out
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool looks on as Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, is seen during a Liverpool Training Session at AXA Training Centre (Image: Getty Images)
Jarell Quansah has defended Mohamed Salah but refused to be drawn on his own relationship with Arne Slot following his Liverpool exit last summer. The England international left the Reds to join Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth up to £35m, having found his opportunities limited under the Dutchman.
The 22-year-old started the season as first choice alongside Virgil van Dijk away to Ipswich Town but was withdrawn at half-time in Liverpool’s opening day 2-0 victory at Portman Road with Ibrahima Konate reclaiming his place ahead of him in the pecking order.
While Quansah would go on to make 25 appearances last season, he only started 13 times and failed to start in his favoured centre-back position again until after the Premier League title was won.
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Having found himself on the bench for the Reds’ clashes with West Ham United, Sunderland and Leeds United, Salah sent shockwaves following the 3-3 draw at Elland Road as he spoke out against Slot and the club.
The Egyptian claimed he was being ‘thrown under the bus’ by Liverpool and that his relationship with his head coach had completely broken down.
He would subsequently be left out of the travelling squad for the Reds’ Champions League victory over Inter Milan, with it remaining to be seen if a resolution can be reached in order for the forward to be recalled for Saturday’s clash with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Quansah was asked about Salah’s situation ahead of Leverkusen’s own Champions League clash with Newcastle United. And the defender was nothing but positive about his former team-mate, before side-stepping questions about Slot.
“I can only speak on when I was there and what I saw from Mo,” he said, as quoted by the Daily Mail. “A great role model, a great character around the dressing room who obviously had an unbelievable season and helped us win the trophy (Premier League).
“From what I’ve seen, it’s nothing but positive. He’s helped me through tough times, he’s definitely done that.
“I can’t speak from the outside. I’m just sort of a Liverpool fan and looking like everyone else.”
Then when asked about his relationship with Slot, he said: “It’s not about what it was last year and what was happening. I’m totally focused on what I’m doing now.
“I don’t need to speak about my relationships with other managers. It’s about what I’m doing here at Leverkusen now and the task at hand tomorrow is more important.”
Quansah would also insist he has no regrets about his decision to join Leverkusen despite Liverpool’s defensive struggles this season.
The Reds have proven particularly leaky at the back, with both Van Dijk and Konate coming in for increasing criticism following a number of poor displays.
Meanwhile, Slot’s options have also been depleted after Giovanni Leoni suffered a season-ending ACL injury back in September, having also seen a move for Marc Guehi collapse on transfer deadline day.
“I had the opportunity to prove myself here [at Leverkusen] and I’m super happy that I made the move,” he told BBC Sport. “You can’t live the game of football with regrets.
“Anything could have happened at Liverpool and I had to focus on what I wanted to do and what I felt was best.
“The feeling I got from Leverkusen was everything I needed for my development. It’s not about this year or next year – it’s about where I’m going to be when I reach the top of my level.
“I thought the best way of doing that was by taking a step abroad.”